HITC understands that Liverpool see their main priority this summer as being to tie down Trent Alexander-Arnold to a new long-term deal.
The 25-year-old has been a key player for Liverpool since Jurgen Klopp handed him his debut in 2016.
The Reds and Trent Alexander-Arnold have held talks throughout the season, but the idea was always to sit down at the end of the campaign to thrash out the finer details.
Liverpool sources insist that there are no worries within the club about the England defender committing his future to his hometown club.
They have made it clear to his camp that they see him as the club’s long-term captain and will make him their highest-paid player.
Virgil van Dijk is currently the man who dons the captain’s armband after he replaced Jordan Henderson in that role at the start of the campaign.
But the Dutchman is 32 and it seems logical for Alexander-Arnold to, one day, fill his boots as the leader of his boyhood club.
Trent Alexander-Arnold under Arne Slot after Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool exit
However, whilst a deal remains unsigned, HITC understands there are some within the club that do worry about him not yet being signed.
With Arne Slot arriving to replace Klopp – Liverpool don’t want the Dutchman to inherit a difficult situation with Alexander-Arnold and want the situation done and dusted sooner rather than later.
The club do have other issues to attend to, with new signings wanted and needed in defence, midfield and attack – but taking care of the Alexander-Arnold situation is seen as key by all levels of the club’s hierarchy.
Trent Alexander’s success at Liverpool
The Englishman isn’t at the peak of his powers yet, but there are some who would probably name Alexander-Arnold in their best-ever Liverpool XI after his success under Klopp.
When you are constantly dubbed a right-back version of Kevin de Bruyne, then you know you are a special player.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp has just confirmed major Liverpool news before the club have made the announcement
He has won the lot at Anfield, including ending Liverpool’s three-decade to win the Premier League title and securing Champions League glory in Madrid.
Jamie Carragher feels Liverpool should build their team around him, even though Mohammed Salah and van Dijk are still at the club.
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